Prozinc controlled diabetic -neuropathy returned?

[Samantha Everitt]

Hi all, first time I've posted on here but my cat Richmond was diagnosed with diabetes in September and he is doing really well so far. However Monday night he was admitted to the vets because he appeared to have an asthma attack! Because of the investigations they needed to do they missed an insulin dose but gave him his next one in the morning. They sorted the asthma but since he's been back his back hind legs seem to have gone back to what they were when he was first diagnosed! Has anyone had this? Is it a sign he is hyperglycaemic? He's very lethargic but I think that's because when he tries to walk he has to stop and lay down. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Sam

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

They sorted the asthma but since he's been back his back hind legs seem to have gone back to what they were when he was first diagnosed!

Is there any chance that he suffered some kind of injury or strain while at the vets? Does he seem to be in pain...?
I've never heard of neuropathy (weak back legs) returning in this way. It is caused by long term high blood glucose, and tends to come on gradually...

Lethargy can certainly be one of the symptoms of hypoglycemia (blood glucose that is too low...) How long after insulin did the symptoms occur?
Has Richmond been given any drugs that could cause these kinds of symptoms as side effects..?

How is Richmond now?
If no improvement very soon it may be wise to call your vet for advice on this.

 

[Samantha Everitt]

This is what I thought as he isn't walking much but I wonder if he's finding it painful so obviously doesn't want to move much. I agree I wonder if he's injured himself rather than it being diabetic related but I thought I would see if anyone else had heard of this as he's been very well controlled now for a couple of months.
He is still not moving much so I think a trip to the vet may be a good idea.
Thank you!

 

[JanetNJ]

You said he's a controlled diabetic? What does that mean exactly? Like he's regulated into lower numbers? What have his glucose numbers been this week? Are you testing at home? If not there's no way to know how controlled his diabetes is. What is his current dose? Do you give a b12 methylcobalamin supplement for the neuropathy?

 

[Samantha Everitt]

Apologies that was not a good way of explaining it! We dont do BG testing at home (where we are in the UK that is). When he was at the emergency vets on Monday though they did it and it was 17.3 and he was due it then so they said that was fine. But he had the fructozamine test last week which shows good control on his 6 units a day (3every 12hrs) and his legs have been back to normal. No haven't had B12 even discussed by the vet actually. Taking him today to see his vet to discuss so we'll see. Thanks for your reply x

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

We dont do BG testing at home (where we are in the UK that is)

Hi Samantha, many of us in the UK do 'hometest' now. Over recent years it has become an increasingly popular trend, and for good reason. It makes managing diabetes very much easier, and also safer for the kitty. And the RVC have found that hometested cats have a higher chance of going into remission.
Many vets are, however, lagging behind the RVC's (and the ISFM's) current guidelines on managing feline diabetes...

If you'd like to learn to test blood glucose at home we can help you learn. In a nutshell though it basically involves pricking the outer edge of the cat's ear to get a blood droplet, transferring the droplet to a test strip in a glucose meter, and rewarding the cat with a treat or a cuddle. Warm ears give the best chance of getting a successful test, especially initially.
'Most' people can learn to test, and 'most' cats seem to come to tolerate it very well, especially if rewarded with treats.
The initial reaction from many of us in the UK when we first hear about hometesting is that 'my cat will never let me do that!'. I was the same. But it just wasn't so. It just took a little while to learn the process.

Many of us use ordinary glucose meters made for human diabetics. But there are also pet meters, the most popular of which is the Alphatrak.
Currently the most popular human meter with UK folks (for diabetic kitties) is the SD Codefree. It's also the cheapest meter to run. The main cost of testing is the test strips.
You can find a bit more info about meters in the second link in my signature at the bottom of this post. Just scroll down to 'UK Blood Glucose Meters'.

Eliz

 

[Samantha Everitt]

Thank you so much for your reply Eliz! I will look into this as I agree I would much rather do glucose reading at home!
Thank you for the insight as my vets are making out doing BG at home is hard but you are right surely they get used to it after a while?
Thank you! x

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you so much for your reply Eliz! I will look into this as I agree I would much rather do glucose reading at home!
Thank you for the insight as my vets are making out doing BG at home is hard but you are right surely they get used to it after a while?
Thank you! x

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home. There's a learning curve but it's not difficult unless you have an uncooperative cat.

 

[Amina&M'row]

I've finally got acceptable with using glucommeter,am closing in on good. Highly recommend Janet's video on this, see link to it above in this thread. Thanks so much, Janet!!